Once a tire loses a large amount of air pressure, it causes a flat tire. Overuse, puncture, improper air pressure, or a defect can cause a tire to become flat. Furthermore, driving on underinflated tires can cause damage and increased wear on the tire that can cause a flat earlier than if you were to drive on tires that are properly inflated.
Things to note when driving on a flat tire:
As soon as you have a flat tire, pull over to the side of the road. Driving on a flat tire can be dangerous and bad for your vehicle. A spare tire is located in your vehicle just for a situation such as this. The spare tire can be put on by you, or a tow truck, depending on the amount of mechanical experience you have.
If you continue to drive on the flat tire, the car will pull heavily to one side making it difficult to drive in a straight line. In addition, internal structure damage can be done to the tire and vehicle damage may also be possible from a flat tire.
Along with the vehicle being damaged, the flat tire can cause an accident, injury, or even death to the passengers in the vehicle or those around the vehicle. The vehicle could lose control easily, causing you to slam into a nearby vehicle or object.
Some flat tires can be salvaged, if they have a small puncture like a screw or a nail. If they have larger problems, just as a blowout or a gash, the entire tire may need to be replaced by a mechanic.
If you fail to change a flat tire in a timely manner, it can cause the brake lines, calipers, rotors, suspension components, fenders, and wheels to have serious damage. This damage will most likely cost thousands of dollars, instead of a more affordable tire fix. Furthermore, if the braking system gets damaged, it will be more difficult to stop in case of an emergency.
Driving on a flat tire is dangerous and should not be done. Once you notice a flat, slow down to 20 mph and find a safe stopping point as soon as possible. If you have experience you can change the flat tire and replace it with the spare tire, or call a tow truck and have a mechanic change the tire for you.
